How Much Sleep Do Kids Need?

You may be thinking that your kids are healthy and well-adjusted, until you start comparing them to other kids. Parents, in particular, will give you all kinds of advice about every child-related topic under the sun and leave you thoroughly confused and questioning everything you thought you knew about raising a little human being.

So often, you hear all sorts of opinions about what kind of sleep your kids should be getting. After all, isn’t a good night’s sleep important for early child development and care?

But, how much is just right? And how much is too much?

The amount of sleep your child needs depends mostly on their age. The following are health tips for kids.

Newborns to Age 2

Infants sleep up to 18 hours a day, and by the time they are a year old, that is reduced to one or two naps per day and sleeping overnight. Your little one can sleep upwards of 15 hours a day in these early months.

Age 2-3

Children at this age start to leave off a morning nap but still nap during the afternoons. Most toddlers need at least 14 hours of sleep per day. Nap times may be as long as 3 hours per day. They typically go to bed between 7 and 9 PM and awake between 6 and 8 AM.

Age 3-6

Children will still go to bed in the early evenings, and arise fairly early in the morning. A typical 3 year old will still nap, whereas a typical 5 year old will not. Naps will become shorter over time and less frequent until they are gone for good.

Age 7-12

These are the years when your child starts school, and gets involved in many social and sports activities. Days are busy and often filled up with lots to do. Still, young children need their sleep. Bedtimes will range from 7 PM to 10 PM and children still need 10-11 hours of sleep per day.

Age 12-18

As teens grow, sleep is needed to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Typically, teens start to sleep between 8-9 hours a night, although some teens need more. Usually they are involved with many school and social pressures, so sleep may not be on their minds like it once was.

Sleep is vital to any growing child. If you have questions the next time you’re in for your child doctor visit in Glendale, be sure to ask. Ensure that your kids are getting the right amount every day, and they will be ready and raring to go even when you’re not!